86 History of Inland Transport 



to the sea, and from the several places in it to each other. 

 Trade is no longer fettered by the Embarrasments, which 

 attended our former Situation. Dispatch, which is the very 

 life and Soul of Business, becomes daily more attainable by 

 the free Circulation opening in every Channel, which is adapted 

 to it. Merchandise and Manufactures find a ready Conveyance 

 to the Markets. The natural Blessings of the Island are 

 shared by the Inhabitants with a more equal Hand. The 

 Constitution itself acquires Firmness by the Stability and 

 Increase both of Trade and Wealth which are the Nerves and 

 Sinews of it. 



" In Consequence of all this, the Demand for the Produce 

 of the Lands is increased ; the Lands themselves advance 

 proportionably both in their annual Value and in the Number 

 of Years-purchase for which they are sold, according to such 

 Value. . . . 



" There never was a more astonishing Revolution accom- 

 plished in the internal System of any Country than has been 

 within the Compass of a few years in that of England. 



" The carriage of Grain, Coals, Merchandize, etc., is in 

 general conducted with little more than half the Number of 

 Horses with which it formerly was. Journies of Business 

 are performed with much more than double Expedition. 

 Improvements in Agriculture keep pace with those of Trade. 

 Everything wears the Face of Dispatch ; every Article of our 

 Produce becomes more valuable ; and the Hinge, upon which 

 all these Movements turn, is the Reformation which has been 

 made in our Publick Roads." 



In the article on " Roads " in Postlethwayt's " Dictionary " 

 (1745) it is declared that the country had derived great 

 advantage from the improvements of the roads, and from the 

 application of tolls collected at the turnpikes. Travelling had 

 been rendered safer, easier and pleasanter. " That this end is 

 greatly answered," we are assured, " everyone's experience 

 will tell him who can remember the condition of the roads 

 thirty or forty years ago." There had been, also, a benefit to 

 trade and commerce by the reduced cost of carriage for all 

 sorts of goods and merchandise. On this especially interest- 

 ing point the writer of the article says : " Those who have 

 made it their business to be rightly informed of this matter 

 have, upon inquiry, found that carriage is now 30 per cent 



